Activist calls for legal crackdown to stop animal abuse after 19 dogs found dead in N.L.

Mourners held a vigilTuesday evening to mark the deaths of more than a dozen dogs in New Harbour, N.L., a tragedy that's prompting one activist to demandstricter animal cruelty laws in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Rescue N.L. director Heather Ballard said she's never seen a comparable case of animal abuse in Newfoundland and Labrador to the case reported last week, in which19 dogs, including several puppies, were found dead on a New Harbour property.

"I don't think there's ever been a case in the province's history where this many animals have died," Ballard told CBC News.

She also says it's time for a legal overhaul to ensure it doesn't happen again.

"Our laws haven't been changed since 2012. And although whenthey changed then it was a lot of positives, it's 2024 now. That's a long time ago."

Ballard said she'd like to see a law prohibiting certain people from being able to own and care for another animal after a criminal conviction related to hurting an animal.

"If you're convicted of any kind of animal cruelty or abuse or neglect anything like thatthat you cannot have an animal in your care in your residence. Because it's just backward thinking."

It doesn't make sense to allow someone to get another animal after they've been charged with an offence against an animal, she said.

"I don't think it looks good on the province either because it just shows how far behind we are," said Ballard.

She pointed to Ontario, which brought in legislation targeting puppy mills that came with fines.

Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Gerry Byrne said in a statement he appreciated Ballard's concerns and hinted changes could soon be coming to N.L. animal welfare laws.

"We would like to reassure those concerned with issues of animal cruelty that the Animal Health and Protection Act is currently under review with the intention to introduce amendments in the coming months," said Byrne in an email to CBC News.

Byrne added there are already provincial laws that can bar individuals convicted of animal abuse from owning an animal, including a lifetime ban.

"Additional penalties may also include fines of up to $50,000 and imprisonment of up to six months. Serious animal cruelty can also result in Criminal Code of Canada charges," he said.

Vigil held

Ballard was in New Harbour on Tuesday evening for a vigil held in remembrance for the 19 dogs, which she said was a sombre event.

"We had collars and we had tags made with 'Never Forgotten 19,' one for each dog that had passed away," she said.

People carried the dog tags with them in a procession as they passed the location where it's believed the dogs died, said Ballard, adding people prayed and played music.

"It was very emotional. I don't think there was a dry eye there."

While Angel by Sarah McLachlan played, people laid collars on the ground around a small angel statue, said Ballard.

People from as far away as Bonavista, more than 200 kilometres away, came to the memorial, she said.

"This just didn't touch the community of New Harbour. It touched people across the province."

A 52-year-old man from Ontario is facing one count of careless use of a firearm and 19 counts of animal cruelty.

"Could this have been prevented is the big question. Is there someone else responsible besides the person that owned these dogs?" said Ballard.

"Those dogs should still be alive."

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